Electric switch.



0. 0. RIDER.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

rum-r10! rmm Jun 21, 1904.

PATENTBD SEPT.1,1908.

I '3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N I YPATBNTED SEPT. 1 1908.

O 0. 0. RIDER.

ELECTRIC SWITCH-1 APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i i f @Panmde M I J 0M PATBNTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

0 0; RIDER. ELECTRIC SWITGH. Arrmouloq rnnn nnu: 21, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORAN O. RIDER, ,OF SOHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC GOM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC swi'rcn.

Specification Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Application flled'luno 27, 1904. Serial No. 214,215.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORAN O. RID R, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectadv, county. of Schenectady, State of New ork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements-in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

The invention constituting the subject matterof the present application relates to electric switches, and has particular reference to the latching and tripping mechanism of switches of the double-throw type.

The principal object of the invention is to provide mac and compact in structure and which shall 0 erateto free the switch from either of itsc o'sed positions irrespective of the mani ulation of the operating lever by the atten ant.

In carrying out my invention means is provided for clutching the moving element of the switch to the operatinglever so that the movement of the latter may be transmitted to the former, and a tripping mechanism actuated from a coil mounted on the base of The object and nature of my invention will be more fully understood u on reference to the following detailed I escription taken in connection with the accom anying drawing in'which one embodiment o the in-' ventionis disclosed.

Generally-speaking, my invention is applicable to any double-throw switch in which movement is transmitted from the operating lever to the movable switch element through a link or equivalent-connection. However, for the of fully disclosing my invention, I ave shown and described in this applieation a articular form of double-throw switchwhic copstitutes no pal-t of my innation but is t e invention of Edward M.

anism which shall be simplev the switch is mounted, an

Hewlett and constitutes the subject matter of a separate application.

In the accom anying drawings, which illustrate one em odunent of myeinvention in connection with the Hewlett switch, Figure is a side elevation of the com lete or-- g amzation; Fig. 2 is a plan view of t e same; ig. 3 is a detailed view of the clutchin mechanism by which the'movable switcfi element isconnected to the operating lever, the parts being shown in clutched position Fig.4 is a detailed view of a portion of the switch mechanism; Fi 5 is a plan view of the movable element 0 the switch; Fig. 6 is a' rear view of the switch contacts; Fig. 7 is a detailed view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating the clutching mechanism in closed or nonengaging position; Fig. 8 is a plan view of part of thls clutching mechanism illustrating articularly the position of the trip ing ever; and Fig. 9 1s a side view of one o the bridging contacts shown in Fig. 5.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly for the present to the. Hewlett switch, 10 designates the switchboard or other support upon which 1 l designates a horizontal supporting plate for the switch contacts. This plate at its forward end is securel bolted or otherwise secured to the switch card 10, and at its rear end is supported 'by standards 12 which are adapted to rest at their lower end upon any suitable support.

supported u on and extend down through sa1 plate. his plate is also provided with" The plate 11 serves to support the fixed contacts or circuit terminals 13,- 14, 15, carried within suitable insulators which are depending side walls .17 to the lower ends of which is connected a plurality of supporting links 18 for the frame 19 of the movable switch element. This frame comprises side members 20 which are connected at their opposite ends by transverse rods 21 upon-which are leaded a plurality of grooved insulators These insulators com let-ely surround the rods 21 and sup ort tie bridging contacts 23 which are tted at their opposite ends in ooves 24 in said insulators and areelampe m position thereon by means of straps 25 secured by suitable screws 26. The rods 21 also extend through the links 18 as clearly illustrated and are connected at their centers by links 27 to cranks 28 located directly thereabove and suitably journaled in side walls 29 extending upward from the supporting plate 11. The sets of contacts are separated by barriers 30 which extend downwardly from] the supportin plate '11 into-close proximity to the movabTe element of the switch, the lower ends; of said barriers extending into the spaces 31 between adjoining insulators, as clearly illustrated in Fi 0' 6 and being curved concentric with the path f movement of the rods 21 so as always to extend within said spaces 31 into close proximity to the rods 21, asillustrated in Fig. 1

These switchcontacts, both fixed and movable, are intended to be submerged .in oil contained in the can or receptacle 32 which is securedat its upper end tolthe sulpporting frame by any suita l'e' means, as by olts 33. From the above description it will be seen that when the cranks 28 are rocked, the

bridging contacts of the switch will move either in one direction or the other about. the

' and end walls 17,- as indicated bythe dot-' points of connection between the links 18 and-dash lines, a, a, in Fig. 1, into engagement with the contacts 13, 14 in-the one case, and the contacts 14, 15 in the other.

pull upon the links 27,,and since this-pull may be obtained by rocking the cranks 28 in either direction, it is necessary in order to insure ajm'o'vement of the bridging contacts in the right direction, cor responding'to a giyen movement of the cranks, to provide some means ,for positively giving direction to their movement at the beginning ofv the kpull-upen;

, y'P Q vidin'g'thelinlns with a projecting'lug orb-pin the links 27. This is accomplishe .34 and" the end walls" 17 with cooperatm' is in its lowest position.

lugs'34- which-extend onopposite sides 0 the lug 34 when the movable switch element If now we consider Fig. 1, it will be seen that if the cranks 28 are moved toward the right, the links '27 will be moved as'levers about the points'of contact between the'lugs' 34934 as fulcra, so as to carry the movable switch contacts toward the left. are moved toward the left, the switch contacts will be carried toward the right. In either event however, as soon as the lugs-34 pass the lugs'34' the links 27 will cease to act aslevers but will pull directly upward upon the frame 19 of the movable switch element.

The switch just descri Rotation'is 'im arted to the cranksI28 ironr the operatlng everlocated, on the front of,

the board through the agency of links 35, 36 and intervening cranks 37 38 mounted on the crank shaft 39. This crankshaft is journaled at its opposite end to the upwardly extendi'ngfwall's 29 o f-the su port-ing frame 1-1.

indicated, constitutes no part of my inven Referringnowto thatfstructure which .re-

Thesemovements are brought about by the upward,

On the other-hand, if thecranks 28 ed, as previously lates more particularly to my invention, 40'

designates a rocking member which is pivoted at its inner end to lug 41 on the base 42, which in turn is secured to the front of the switchboard 10. This plate also supports the operating lever 43 which is pivoted to a lug 44 concentrically with the rocking member 40.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, the link 36 t by which movement is transmittedto the switcli is pivotally connected at its forward end to a projection-'onthe upper side of the rocking member 40.- By means of clutching mechanism hereinafter-described, the mem- -ber40 and-thelever43 may be rigidly-connected so: that the -movement of the operating lever will, be, communicated 'direotlyto the switch element-,themovement-of e p a ing lever upward{causinga corresponding movement of the switch to one closed osi-.

nwa ldmu ingamqv me mtha ot e closed position .ln order to :holdthe operat tion, andthe movement of the operating ever ing lever ln' ts' npper. andlqwslf Positions suitab esprin -aetuated,

hes.45;arerprovided.' These .latchesnorn ally lie inza posit onito en-.

gage t ug 6; 1 s iths perat n l v 43-.

A pushpin-47 extends, beyondthQputer-end 1 of the lever. andinto proximity-totlie lugs 46, and when theoperating lever is: engaged by either of the latches 45, the. pinmay be.

pressed so as to force. the latch out of contact with its-1ug'46 and thus free the operating leverso that it nay be moved to any desired positiom- The latch mechanism for connectin the m0vable -men1ber=40 to the operating ever 43 comprises ,tWo latch levers 48 pivoted at the point 49 to the mdvablemember 40,- as. clearlyillus-trated in Figs. 7 and 8. These latching. levers arev provided at, their outer, ends. with engaging lugs or-flprojections '50- which are pivoted to said levers and normally held by means of coiled springs 51 in an ex tended position, a shoul er 52 on said lugs bearing against a cooperating surfac'e53 on;

the latchinglevers 48 to limit the movement;

ofthe lugs under the-action of the springs.

These lugs 50 are adapted to engage a co6peratin lug 54 on the operating handle 43,,

and w enthey lie in the path of'movement' of said lug it-will'be'seen that by reasonof;

the particular pivotal mountingpf the-lugs into-the space between thel be withdrawn therefrom.

50 the operating lever will always freely pass s 50 but cannot vJ 0 seen that in the moyeinent of the operating movable member 40 it will be latched to it.

' In order to move the latchlevers .48 into ag 5 1125 movement of the'lug 54, a tog le 55 extend 9' Eelatch'leversi 48 is provided; A'coil'ed spring 56 connected between a fixegl point'on the. movable mam her14fl and thefipivotal point of the toggle position to' bring the lugs 50 into the path- 0f mgbetw'ee'n the'inner ends of t -lever from either position, into l ine.with the serves to draw the toggle into the position illustrated in Fig. 3, in which figure it will seen that'the toggle is slightly overset.

A pin 57 on one of the latching levers 48 limits the movement of the toggle under the action ofthe spring 56. When the parts are in the latching position (illustrated in Fig. 3) the inner ends of the latching levers 48 closely engage the laterally projectin lugs 58, 58-on the connecting mechanism to the movable switch element.

In order to break the toggle 55, a tripping lever 59 is pivoted to the rotatable member 40 on a vertical pivot and is located so that when actuated one end will strike against the toggle. The other end of this lever terminates in line. with the pivots carrying the operating lever'43 and rotatable member 40, SO that no matter what the position of these parts, the position of this end of the lever.-

will be practically u nchanged. Cooperating with this tripping lever 59 is a lever 60 piv".

oted on a horizontal pivot 61 to a lug on the base 42. This lever 60 has one end located so as to en age the outer end of the tripping lever 59, while its other end lies in the path of movement of the core 62 of an overload magnet 63 which is connected in any suitable circuit in a manner well known in the art.

From thisdescription it will be seen that when the coil of the magnet 63 is energized the core. 62 will rock the lever 60 about its pivot 61 so as to actuate the tripping lever 59 to break the toggle and there y move the latching mechanism out of latchi and leave the movable element of t e switch free to move under the force of gravity into its open position irres ective of the'position of the operating handle '43. As soon as the coil 63 is denergized the spring 56 will reset the toggle 55 and throng 1 its engagement with the lever 59 bring said lever as well as 'thelever into normal position. As previously indicated, when the latching mechanism is returned to engaging position,that is to the position illustrated in Fi 3,-the'operating lever 43 may be readily. atche'd therewith by movi it into line with the rotatable member 40 which occupies a mid-position when the switch is open, as illustrated in it will be apparent that many of the features and com inations of my invention which are herein disclosed inconnection with a double-throw switch are capable of use in other connections 5 I therefore do not wish to be unduly limited as to such uses. again,

position man. alterations and modifications in the specific matter illustrated may be made with- I out departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I accordingly do not wish to be limited to this specific matter, but aim to cover by the terms of the a pended claims all such alterations and modi ,ications.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statcs,'is,-

1. A double throw electric switch biased. to

open when closed and having its open position between its two closed positions, an operating lever therefor, means for clutching said lever to the movable switch element so as to close the latter, and means for automaticallyv freeing said element from said lever irrespective of the position of the lever.

2. A double throw electric switch biased to open when closed and having its open posit on between itstwo closed positions, an opcrating lever therefor, means for clutching said lever to the movable switch element so as-to close the latter, and electrically actuatcd meansresponsivc to predetermined elec-' trical conditions in itscircuit tofree said element from said lever irrespective ofthe. position of the lever.

3, An electric switch comprising a support, a movable switch element, an operating ever, a rocking member connected tosaid 5 element, means for connectin said merriber to said lever, means for re'aking sard connection comprising contacting levers car-" ried by said member and sup ort respectively, and a cooperating trip coi also carried bysaid support and actlng on one of said levers to transmit-motion to the other.

4. The combination with'a suitable sup port, of a movable switch element, an operating handle therefor, a movable member mounted adjacent to said handle and connected to said switch element, means for. latching said member to said handle, a lever carried by said member for tripping said latch, a lever pivoted-to said support and movable at all times into engagement with the-aforesaid lever, and a tripping coil mounted on said support for actuating the latter lever. i

5. In switch operating mechanism, the combination of a pivoted operati lever, a member pivoted concentrically t erewith, means for locking said member and lever together, a tripping lever carried b said mom"- er and hen an 'end extending into the line of pivots c said lever and member, and

means carried by a fixed member for engag ing the end of said tripping lever to actuate it to trip said locking means.

6. In a switch-operating mechanism, thecombination with an operating lever and a movable member mounted adjacent thereto, of a lug on said operat' lever a latching lever pivoted to said mom or an adapted to extend into the path of movement of-said lug, a toggle "for holding said lever in its latching osition, and means for breaking said togg e. a

7. In switch operating mechanism, the combination with an operating lever and a movable member mounted adjacent thereto, of a lug on said, operating lever, a pair of latchin levers pivoted to said member and ada te to extend at different points into the pat of movement of said lug, a toggle for olding said levers in latchi position, and means for breaking said togg e.

8. In switch operating mechanism, the combination witha pivoted lever and a movable member mounted adjacent thereto, o f'a lug on-sa-id operating lever, a pair of latchin levers pivoted to sald member and ada te to extend at different points into the pat of movement of said lug, a toggle for moving said levers, a s ring for over-setting said toggle' to hold said levers in latchin .pos'ition,

.inzitsmovement in'the; other d-ir tion.

and a lever- -forbreaking said togg e. to draw said levers out of latchlng position.

9. In switch operating mechanism, the combination with-an operating lever nd a movable member mounted adjacent thereto, of means-comprising cooperating lugs carried by 'said-operating-lever and movable member g respectively for permitting free movement of said operatin' lever-in one direction and for Y latching said everto said movable'member 10. In 'switchp ism,

err/ 92 the path of the aforesaid at 'di erent' points'andineans for'controlling said lugs so as to ermit the free movement of said 0 erating ever into a osition between said ugs and to latch said over to said member upon its movement from said position. .11. Anelectric switch comprisinga support, a movable switch element, an operating ever therefor, latching1 meansforconnecting and [disconnecting sai lever and element, a tripping lever pivoted to said support and o t e switch is "in any of its closed positions.

12. An electric switch oomprismga sup-v port, a movable sWi-tchelement an operating ever therefor, latchin means ior connect ng and disconnecting sai lever-and e1er nent,.a tripping lever pivoted; to said support and frlaerative to tripsaid latching means when t o e'rative to trip said-latching -meanswhen,

t 6 switch is in any -of its closed and a trippin'gcoilmounted on sai support for actuating '.the tripping lever.

In witness whereo hand vthi's-25th-day ofJun'e', 1904.

ORAN o. RIDER.-

Witnesses:

' BENJAMIN B. HULL,

HELEN Oaronrnositions, f

hereunto set Iny eo- 

